Podiatry: Training

Mr Sanders:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanism he plans to put in place to ensure that adequate undergraduate training places for podiatrists are commissioned after the abolition of strategic health authorities; and who will be responsible for his commissioning process. [27159]

Anne Milton:
There are no plans currently to change the national recruitment system for podiatrists.

The Department will publish a consultation on proposals for education and training, based on the principles in the White Paper.

The system should be driven by health care provider decisions underpinned by strong clinical leadership. It will be set within the context of delivering appropriate investment in work force education and training, while ensuring better outcomes for patients and value for money.

The system needs to provide for appropriate checks, balances and accountability. The arrangements for commissioning and delivery will be transparent and more efficient.

Primary Care Trusts: Strategic Health Authorities.

Liz Kendall:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the statutory responsibilities are of (a) primary care trusts and (b) strategic health authorities. [27620]

Mr Simon Burns:
I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Southport (Dr Pugh) on 18 October 2010, Official Report, columns 580-81W.

Smoking: Deaths

Mr Evennett:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of early deaths from smoking-related diseases. [27040]

Anne Milton:
Smoking is the biggest preventable cause of death in England, causing over 80,000 smoking-related deaths each year. Smoking rates have been in decline since the early 1970s. The Department will continue to take action to discourage young people from taking up smoking as well as encouraging those who smoke to quit. The Government set out their plans in the Public Health White Paper, which was laid before Parliament on 30 November.

Home Department

Crime Prevention

Mr Bain:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the coalition agreement, what further steps she plans to take to prevent crime and apprehend criminals. [13240]

30 Nov 2010 : Column 763W

Nick Herbert:
On 13 July 2010, we announced the Home Office Structural Reform Plan which sets out the implementation of the reforms outlined in the coalition agreement. The Home Office Structural Reform Plan sets out top five departmental priorities for crime prevention and reduction. These priorities are:

enable the police and local communities to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour;

increase the accountability of the police to citizens;

secure our borders and control immigration;

protect people's freedoms and civil liberties; and

protect our citizens from terrorism.

We will continue to shape and refocus our approach to crime prevention and reduction as we build on the commitments in the Structural Reform Plan. Further detail on the policies currently under development will be included in a new crime strategy that will be published in due course.

Cybercrime

Andrew Selous:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which 10 (a) countries and (b) organisations pose the greatest threat to cyber-security in the UK in order of the level of threat posed; and if she will make a statement. [25896]

Nick Herbert [holding answer 23 November 2010]:It would not be appropriate to provide detailed information about which organisations or countries are assessed as high cyber security risks to the UK. Such information could assist adversaries in identifying vulnerabilities and circumventing security controls, thereby exposing the UK to greater risk from attacks. The Security Service estimates that at least 20 foreign intelligence services are operating to some degree against UK interests. The low cost, global reach and largely anonymous nature of cyberspace makes it an attractive domain for use by people, organisations or states seeking to use it for malicious purposes. Perpetrators can include terrorist organisations, organised criminal groups, as well as those engaged in state-led espionage and warfare.

Demonstrations: Whitehall

Priti Patel:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what reports she has received from the Metropolitan police service (MPS) on the estimated (a) cost of damage caused and (b) number of criminal offences committed in the course of the demonstration in London on 24 November 2010; how many arrests were made; how many people were stopped and searched in connection with the demonstration; what the cost to the MPS was of policing the demonstration; what the policy of the MPS is on recovering policing costs from organisers of demonstrations; what the cost of providing facilities to the demonstrators was; and if she will make a statement; [27268]

(2) what the cost to the public purse was of providing (a) toilet facilities, (b) water and (c) related services to demonstrators in Whitehall on 24 November 2010; who was responsible for bearing these costs; and if she will make a statement. [27267]

30 Nov 2010 : Column 764W

Nick Herbert [holding answer 29 November 2010]: The only information held by the Home Office relates to the number of arrests. The latest figure provided by the Metropolitan police service is that as of 26 November there have been 41 arrests.

Departmental Pay

Priti Patel:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how much has been paid to officials in her Department and its non-departmental public bodies in bonuses and other payments in addition to salary in each year since 1997; how many officials received such payments; and what the monetary value was of the largest 20 payments made in each such year; [18780]

(2) what allowances and payments in addition to salary were available to officials in her Department and its non-departmental public bodies in each year since 1997; and what the monetary value was of payments and allowances of each type in each such year. [18781]

Nick Herbert:
Information on non-consolidated performance payments, used to help drive performance, can only be provided for the last five years. Information on allowances can only be provided for the last four years. The provision of accurate and consistent data before then is either not available, or could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

The information is as follows:

Home Office HQ, UKBA, IPS and CRB

Table 1-Non-consolidated performance payments

Financial year

Total value of payments (£)

Number of staff receiving payments

Total number of staff eligible to receive payment( 1)

2009-10

7,587,957

10,391

26,240

2008-09

6,634,422

10,244

23,029

2007-08

5,912,622

9,658

25,895

2006-07

5,692,142

8,882

25,802

2005-06

5,191,812

8,143

26,661

(1) Source-ONS Source:
Internal databases

Table 2-Largest 20 non-consolidated performance payments

£

Payment

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

1

15,000

22,000

27,000

15,000

28,000

2

15,000

22,000

22,000

15,000

25,000

3

15,000

20,000

20,000

15,000

19,000

4

15,000

20,000

20,000

12,500

10,000

5

15,000

17,000

18,000

12,500

10,000

6

15,000

17,000

17,500

12,500

10,000

7

15,000

17,000

17,500

12,500

10,000

8

15,000

17,000

17,000

12,500

10,000

9

15,000

17,000

17,000

12,500

10,000

10

11,157

17,000

17,000

12,500

10,000

11

10,000

17,000

17,000

12,500

10,000

12

10,000

17,000

17,000

12,500

10,000

13

10,000

16,000

17,000

12,500

10,000

14

10,000

16,000

17,000

12,500

10,000

15

10,000

16,000

17,000

12,500

10,000

16

10,000

16,000

17,000

12,500

10,000

17

10,000

16,000

16,000

11,000

10,000

18

10,000

16,000

16,000

10,000

10,000

19

10,000

16,000

16,000

10,000

10,000

30 Nov 2010 : Column 765W

20

10,000

16,000

16,000

10,000

10,000

Source:
Internal databases

Table 3-Allowances in addition to salary

Financial year

Allowances in addition to salary (£)

2009-10

3,975,377

2008-09

4,576,130

2007-08

5,487,235

2006-07

5,877,310

Source:
Internal databases

Home Office NDPBs

Table 1-Non-consolidated performance payments

Financial year

Total value of payments (£)

Number of staff receiving

Total number of staff eligible to receive payment( 1)

2009-10

884,523

883

5,777

2008-09

559,731

361

5,651

2007-08

405,243

422

5,010

2006-07

314,263

338

4,049

2005-06

78,405

140

190

(1) Source-ONS Source:
Internal databases

Table 2-Largest 20 non-consolidated performance payments

£

Payment

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

1

10,000

10,000

25,000

20,000

16,793

2

10,000

10,000

15,000

17,000

16,350

3

7,500

10,000

15,000

17,000

12,500

4

6,000

10,000

13,978

17,000

10,000

5

5,960

6,500

12,000

17,000

10,000

6

5,000

6,500

12,000

11,000

10,000

7

3,000

6,500

8,706

10,000

10,000

8

3,000

3,750

8,000

9,026

10,000

9

3,000

3,282

8,000

9,026

10,000

10

3,000

3,183

8,000

9,026

10,000

11

2,500

3,070

7,156

8,500

10,000

12

2,121

3,000

5,322

8,495

10,000

13

1,881

2,802

5,000

8,495

10,000

14

1,500

2,763

5,000

8,495

10,000

15

1,500

2,732

5,000

8,495

10,000

16

1,500

2,500

5,000

8,000

10,000

17

1,000

2,430

5,000

6,000

10,000

18

1,000

1,978

5,000

6,000

10,000

19

1,000

1,976

5,000

6,000

10,000

20

1,000

1,737

5,000

6,000

8,250

Source:
Internal databases

Table 3-Allowances in addition to salary

Financial year

Allowances in addition to salary (£)

2009-10

1,018,864

2008-09

1,278,547

2007-08

1,716,457

2006-07

5,818,537

Source:
Internal databases

There are two separate sets of these three tables-one set for Home Office/UK Border Agency (UKBA) and agencies, and a second set for Home Office non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs).

30 Nov 2010 : Column 766W

Allowances comprise skills and recruitment and retention allowances.

The figures exclude locational allowances, and temporary payments, such as those paid to staff for fulfilling temporary duties. They also exclude expenses, for example the reimbursement of costs actually and necessarily incurred in the course of official business.

Since 1997 there have been a number of machinery of government (MoG) changes which have involved the creation and dissolution of agencies and NDPBs. The National Offender Management Service transferred under a MoG change to the Ministry of Justice's payroll in 2008, so is not included in the Home Office figures after that date. Two NDPBs have been created since April 2005: the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) in April 2006, and the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) in March 2008. The Home Office currently has nine agencies and NDPBs. Information provided by these bodies has been included in this answer.

For staff below senior civil service level, agencies and NDPBs except for UKBA, have pay delegation from the Home Office under which they are free to implement pay systems that meet their particular business needs.

Domestic Violence Protection Orders

Ed Balls:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to announce her policy on the piloting of Domestic Violence Protection Orders. [24605]

Mrs May [holding answer 16 November 2010]: On 25 November, I announced the intention to pilot domestic violence protection orders which will help domestic violence victims break the cycle of abuse. The orders are part of the cross-Government vision to tackle violence against women and girls and will be piloted in three police force areas-Greater Manchester, West Mercia and Wiltshire. They will commence in summer 2011 and will run for 12 months.

Drug Seizures

Stephen Twigg:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many seizures of illegal drugs there have been at ports in (a) Liverpool and (b) the North West in the last six years. [26977]

James Brokenshire:
The information requested on drug seizures is not collected centrally.

The drug seizures collection held by the Home Office covers seizures by each police force and the UK Border Agency and cannot separately identify seizures made at ports.

EU Law

Priti Patel:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many EU directives are pending transposition into domestic legislation by her Department; and what estimate she has made of the cost of each such transposition. [27508]

James Brokenshire:
The Home Office has one EU directive pending transposition into domestic legislation: Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and 30 Nov 2010 : Column 767W
of the Council on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes. We are currently considering the most cost-effective ways of transposing this directive.

Human Trafficking

Mr Andrew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of current initiatives to reduce the incidence of human trafficking. [26824]

Damian Green [holding answer 29 November 2010]: The effectiveness of the UK's approach to combat human trafficking forms part of the current discussions within the Home Office in order to publish a new strategy by spring 2011 on tackling this crime.

Mr Andrew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training police forces receive to equip them to investigate cases of human trafficking; and if she will make a statement. [26826]

Damian Green [holding answer 29 November 2010]: The sustainable and effective approach to combating human trafficking is through ensuring that it is part of core police business for every police force in the country.

In support of this work the UK Human Trafficking Centre in conjunction with the National Policing Improvement Agency has in place a programme of work to:

embed basic training in human trafficking into mainstream training for student officers and police community support officers;

evaluate and mainstream the Senior Investigating Officers courses;

review and embed human trafficking training into the initial detective training courses; and

include human trafficking in domestic violence, public protection and roads policing programmes.

In addition to this, the UK Human Trafficking Centre provides tactical advice to all forces through its helpline.

Mr Andrew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department plans to initiate a further Pentameter human trafficking investigation. [26827]

Damian Green [holding answer 29 November 2010]: This is an operational matter for the police and Serious Organised Crime Agency, and will be determined by operational priorities.

Human Trafficking: Children

Mr Andrew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has made an assessment of the potential of Operation Newbridge in West Sussex to inform protocols for protecting children suspected of being trafficked in other areas. [26825]

Damian Green [holding answer 29 November 2010]: The Government are committed to safeguarding trafficked children. The experience of initiatives such as Operation Newbridge is being considered as part of the development of a new strategy on human trafficking, due to be launched in the new year. Part of the Government's intention is to capture good practice and use it to inform the new strategy.

30 Nov 2010 : Column 768W

Illegal Immigrants

Toby Perkins:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants who are in prison were convicted of offences related to a breach of immigration law. [27028]

Damian Green:
The latest information published by the Ministry for Justice shows that on 30 September 2010, there were 11,062 foreign nationals in prison. This includes those held under the Immigration Act 1971 (including those in the removal centres of Dover, Haslar and Lindholme) as well as those held on remand or serving custodial sentences.

In order to confirm how many of those are in the UK illegally would require cross referencing individual records between the National Offender Management Service and the UK Border Agency, which would incur a disproportionate cost.

However, I can advise that a proportion of the foreign nationals in prison have a right to be in the UK either as an EEA national or through a form of leave such as indefinite leave to remain or having been granted asylum. The UK Border Agency will seek to revoke leave in order remove individuals who meet the criteria for deportation.

Additionally, the data held centrally on prisoners' offences are not sufficiently detailed to identify those serving sentences for breaches of immigration law.

Immigration

Glenda Jackson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the statement of 23 November 2010, Official Report, columns 169-71, whether those refused (a) student, (b) marriage and (c) family visas will have the right of appeal under her immigration proposals. [27227]

Damian Green:
Rights of appeal are not affected by the immigration proposals announced on 23 November 2010.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate: Travel

Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of her Department's Immigration and Nationality Directorate have used (a) first class rail travel and (b) air travel at fares other than the cheapest available in an official capacity in each of the last five years; how many used hotel accommodation in an official capacity in each such year; and what the cost to her Department was of expenditure in each category in each such year. [25597]

Nick Herbert:
The information requested is not currently held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate costs.

Immigration Controls

Pete Wishart:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has made an assessment of the merits of commissioning more frequent reviews by the Migration Advisory Committee of the proposed operation of the immigration cap. [27254]

30 Nov 2010 : Column 769W

Damian Green:
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) announced on 23 November 2010, Official Report, columns 169-186, that she will ask the Migration Advisory Committee to review the limit next year in order to set new arrangements for 2012-13.

Immigration Controls: Multinational Companies

Mr Bain:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what estimate she has made of the likely effects on the levels of (a) growth, (b) output and (c) overseas direct investment of the restriction of intra-company transfers of more than 12 months to those in receipt of salaries of £40,000 per annum or more; [26937]

(2) what estimate she has made of the effects on the levels of (a) skills, (b) knowledge transfer and (c) overseas direct investment of the restriction of intra-company transfers of more than 12 months to those in receipt of salaries of £40,000 per annum or more; [26938]

(3) what estimate she has made of the likely effects on the levels of (a) growth, (b) output and (c) overseas direct investment of the annual cap on inward migration; [26939]

(4) what estimate she has made of the likely effects on the levels of (a) skills, (b) knowledge transfer and (c) overseas direct investment of the introduction of an annual cap on inward migration. [26940]

Damian Green:
The Government will publish an impact assessment on the changes we are making to economic migration routes.

Immigration: Recruitment

Mike Weatherley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms will be in place to ensure that companies are not inhibited by the proposed annual immigration cap from recruiting talent or transferring their staff from abroad. [27244]

Damian Green:
I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) to the House on 23 November 2010, Official Report, columns 169-186, in particular the arrangements to give priority to the tier 2 route for skilled migrants with job offers, and the arrangements for intra-company transfers.

Intercept Modernisation Programme

Dr Huppert:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the oral answer from the Prime Minister of 27 October 2010, Official Report, column 310, on intercept modernisation, whether the Government plan to (a) establish a decentralised database to store communications data akin to that proposed to be collected under the intercept modernisation programme and (b) require internet service providers or other organisations to store additional communications data; and if she will make a statement. [21029]

30 Nov 2010 : Column 770W

Nick Herbert [holding answer 1 November 2010]: As made clear in the strategic defence and security review, the Government will preserve the ability of the law enforcement, security and intelligence agencies to obtain communications data and intercept communications within the appropriate legal framework. Details of proposals including plans will be presented to Parliament in due course.

Law Enforcement Agencies

Dr Huppert:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on the future of the security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies' ability to (a) obtain communication data and (b) intercept communications. [19425]

Nick Herbert [holding answer 25 October 2010]: As made clear in the strategic defence and security review, the Government will preserve the ability of the law enforcement, security and intelligence agencies to obtain communications data and to intercept communications within the appropriate legal framework. Details of proposals including plans for legislation will be presented to Parliament in due course.

Marriage of Convenience

Pete Wishart:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sham marriages have been identified in each of the last five years. [27251]

Damian Green:
The UK Border Agency does not hold records of the number of sham marriages identified

Civil registrars have a duty under section 24 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1999 to report to the UK Border Agency prospective marriages or civil partnerships which they have reasonable grounds for suspecting may be being contracted for the purposes of circumventing immigration control. The UK Border Agency does hold data on the number of section 24 reports of suspicious marriages made by civil registrars, although these are allegations and not proof of a sham marriage.

Section 24 reports do not cover marriages taking place in the Anglican Church in England and Wales, where the clergy are not under the same legal obligation, or those identified by UK Border Agency case workers.

The number of section 24 reports in the last five years is as follows:

Number

2005

3,578

2006

452

2007

384

2008

344

2009

561

To the end of September, 665 reports have been received in 2010. This increase reflects the raised awareness among registrars of the work to tackle the problem rather than a rise in the number of sham marriages.

Pete Wishart:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the likely effect of the implementation of her proposed requirement for marriage visa applications to demonstrate a minimum comprehension of English on the number of sham marriages. [27252]

30 Nov 2010 : Column 771W

Damian Green:
No assessment has been made of the likely effect on sham marriages of the new English language requirement for spouses and partners.

The new English requirement for spouses and partners is intended to promote the economic well-being of the UK, for example by encouraging integration and protecting public services. While we would welcome any deterrent effect on abuse of the immigration system that may come from any tightening of the marriage rules; tackling sham marriages is not the objective of the new requirement.

Migration

Pete Wishart:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what means her Department plans to end the link between temporary and permanent migration; and what timetable she has set for the implementation of her proposals to end that link. [27250]

Damian Green:
I am considering this question, on which I shall consult in due course.

In the meantime I shall introduce an interim package of changes which will tighten the current settlement criteria. This will take effect from April 2011, with any necessary transitional measures.

There will be a new criminality threshold, requiring all applicants to be clear of unspent convictions when they apply for settlement.

Economic migrants applying for settlement will need to meet the salary criteria that applied when they last extended their permission to stay.

If an applicant fails to pass the minimum English language requirement, their application for settlement will be refused.

We will remove the ability for new entrants into the Intra Company Transfer route to extend their leave beyond five years.

Migration: Scotland

Pete Wishart:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to announce her policy on migration post-study; and whether her Department has made an assessment of the merits of providing an exemption for the Fresh Talent programme in Scotland. [27253]

Damian Green:
As the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) announced in her statement to Parliament of 23 November 2010, Official Report, columns 169-186, the Government will shortly launch a public consultation on proposed changes to the student visa arrangements. The consultation will seek views on the future of the Tier 1 Post Study Work category, the current scheme that allows international students who have achieved certain qualifications to stay in the UK and work for up to two years after they have completed their studies.

There has been no assessment of the merits of providing an exemption for the Fresh Talent Programme in Scotland. However, should any representations be made about this during the consultation, they will be considered in the light of other responses received.

30 Nov 2010 : Column 772W

Misuse of Drugs

Mr Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether she plans to review the remit of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs in formulating her Department's 2010 drugs strategy; [24841]

(2) what information her Department evaluated for benchmarking purposes on drugs policy in other countries during the consultation for her Department's 2010 drugs strategy; [24842]

(3) whether she plans to review the drugs classification system as part of the development of her Department's 2010 drugs strategy; [24844]

(4) whether the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs has made any recommendations for changes to the drugs classifications system as part of the 2010 drugs strategy. [25036]

James Brokenshire [holding answer 18 November 2010]: The Government have no intention of reviewing the remit of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD). The processes and function of the ACMD are currently being reviewed by Sir David Omand in line with Cabinet Office guidelines. The purpose of the review is to consider whether the ACMD is discharging its function that it was set up to deliver within the existing legislation. Sir David Omand's review is expected to conclude early in 2011.

The ACMD has provided successive governments with advice that has informed and shaped the UK's drug policy over the last four decades and continues to provide high quality, independent and expert advice that challenges Government in this complex area of public policy.

The Home Office has been working closely with other Government Departments to develop and publish a new drug strategy in December 2010. During the six-week drug strategy consultation period a number of responses were received from UK embassies and commissions overseas, details of which will be included in a short consultation summary document for publication in December 2010.

No formal assessment has been made of EU or wider international drugs policy in connection with the drafting of the new strategy, due to the inherent differences between the UK and other countries in terms of criminal justice systems, legislation and patterns of drug use. However we have drawn on the experiences of our EU and international contacts to develop the most appropriate response to UK drugs issues.

The Government also work closely with the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) to supply information for the creation of the EMCDDA annual report on the state of the drugs problem in Europe. This report benchmarks European countries on a range of drug related indicators and is used to inform the ongoing development of UK drug policy.

The Government have no intention of reviewing the drug classification system established by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The criminal justice system expects-and the Government must provide-a stable and enduring system. It continues to serve this purpose.

30 Nov 2010 : Column 773W

The ACMD did not make any recommendations for changes to the drugs classification system and has published its response to the Drug Strategy Consultation (2010) on its website. It is available at:

Muslim Brotherhood

Robert Halfon:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations she has received on the activities of the London office of the Muslim Brotherhood; and if she will make a statement. [24583]

Nick Herbert:
The Secretary of State for the Home Department has received no recent representations on the activities of the London office of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Mr Offord:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent reports she has received on the activities of the London offices of the Muslim Brotherhood; and if she will make a statement. [26353]

Nick Herbert:
The Secretary of State for the Home Department has not received any recent reports on the activities of the London offices of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Police Community Support Officers: Finance

Mr Laurence Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to continue to ring-fence the budget which funds police community support officers; and if she will make a statement. [27444]

Nick Herbert [holding answer 29 November 2010]: Details on specific grants, including the Neighbourhood Policing Fund which funds police community support officers, will be announced in early December when the provisional police settlements will be placed before the House of Commons.

Police Community Support Officers: Leicester

Liz Kendall:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police community support officers there are in (a) Leicestershire, (b) Leicester and (c) Leicester West constituency. [27640]

Nick Herbert:
Constituency level data are not collected centrally. However the latest available data are provided in the following table which shows police community support officer strength for Leicestershire by basic command unit, as at 31 March 2010.

(1) These figures are based on full-time equivalents that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures include those officers on career breaks and maternity/paternity leave.

30 Nov 2010 : Column 774W

Police: Crime

Stephen Barclay:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of (a) police community support officers and (b) police officers in (i) the Metropolitan Police Service and (ii) Cambridgeshire Constabulary have been convicted of a criminal offence in each of the last three years. [26451]

Nick Herbert [holding answer 25 November 2010]: The Home Office does not collect the information requested.

Police: Demonstrations

Priti Patel:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 17 November 2010, Official Report, columns 814-5W, on police: demonstrations, what further information she has received on (a) the number of (i) arrests and (ii) prosecutions as a result of the demonstration, (b) the estimated cost of the damage caused by the demonstration and (c) the cost of policing the demonstration. [27380]

Nick Herbert:
As of 26 November, 67 people have been arrested, the majority for offences of public order, aggravated trespass and criminal damage. The Home Office does not hold information on the number of prosecutions, the cost of the damage caused, or policing costs.

Police: Manpower

John Mann:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers (a) were employed on the latest date for which figures are available and (b) she expects to be employed in May 2015. [26441]

Nick Herbert:
The latest available data show that there were 143,734 full-time equivalent (FTE) police officers in the 43 police forces of England and Wales as at 31 March 2010.

Decisions about the number of police officers are a matter for individual chief constables and their police authorities. The Government cannot provide an estimate of officer numbers in May 2015.

Police: Mental Illness

Chi Onwurah:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 11 October 2010, Official Report, column 209W, on police: mental illness, whether her Department plans to undertake an assessment of the effectiveness of its new learning resource entitled Mental Health and Learning Disability in improving the service provided by the police to people with mental health disorders after its publication. [27132]

Nick Herbert [holding answer 29 November 2010]: It is the intention of the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) to assess the effectiveness of the new learning resource through its evaluation strategy.

The evaluation strategy seeks to identify the achievement of the organisational benefits of existing Association of Chief Police Officers guidance about the approach the 30 Nov 2010 : Column 775W
police service takes to people with mental ill health. The evaluation also considers the effectiveness of the implementation support plan developed alongside this resource, as well as the mental ill health learning resource itself.

Union of Good

Ian Austin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what recent representations she has received on the operation of Union of Good in the UK; [16200]

(2) what recent representations she has received on alleged financial and political links between Union of Good and (a) Interpal and (b) Islamic Relief Worldwide; [16201]

(3) what recent representations she has received on alleged financial and political links between Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades and (a) Union of Good, (b) Islamic National Bank and (c) al-Aqsa Television. [16202]

Nick Herbert:
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) has not received any recent representations regarding alleged financial and political links between:

Union of Good and Interpal or Islamic Relief Worldwide; or

between Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades and Union of Good, Islamic National Bank or al-Aqsa Television.

I can also confirm that the Home Secretary has not received any recent representations on the operation of Union of Good in the UK.

My noble Friend, the Minister of State for Security and Counter Terrorism (Baroness Neville-Jones) has received representations from Interpal and Union of Good which are being followed up.

Visas: Scotland

Pete Wishart:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with universities in Scotland on proposed changes to student visa arrangements. [27255]

Damian Green:
As the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) announced in her statement to Parliament of 23 November 2010, Official Report, columns 169-186, the Government will shortly launch a public consultation on proposed changes to the student visa arrangements. There have not yet been any formal discussions on the proposals with universities or other individual institutions in Scotland or elsewhere in the UK, but there will be opportunity for discussion during the consultation period.

Culture, Media and Sport

Arts Council England: Dartford

Gareth Johnson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much Arts Council England spent on projects in Dartford constituency in each of the last 5 years. [27103]

30 Nov 2010 : Column 776W

Mr Vaizey:
The information requested is not held by the Department and relates to matters that are the responsibility of Arts Council England.

Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of Arts Council England to write direct to my hon. Friend.

Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Arts: Bristol City Council

Kerry McCarthy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the likely effect of reductions in local authority funding on arts organisations in the Bristol city council area. [27220]

Mr Vaizey:
It is central Government's role to empower local communities and local authorities to make the decisions that they feel are most appropriate for their area. The Department will continue to fund the arts through Arts Council England, who provide support to a number of regularly funded organisations across the country.

Arts: Finance

Mr Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the level of awareness among the public of the availability to them of arts funding grants; and if he will make a statement. [26981]

Mr Vaizey:
The Department has made no formal assessment of public awareness of available arts funding grants. However, there is a funding guide available on our website:

Arts: Greater London

John McDonnell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of the effect on arts organisations based in the London borough of Hillingdon of local authority funding reductions. [26921]

Mr Vaizey:
It is central Government's role to empower local communities and local authorities to make the decisions that they feel are most appropriate for their area. The Department will continue to fund the arts through Arts Council England, who provide support to a number of regularly funded organisations across the country.

Arts: Leeds City Council

Mr Mudie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of the effect on arts organisations based in Leeds City Council of local authority funding reductions. [27226]

30 Nov 2010 : Column 777W

Mr Vaizey:
It is central Government's role to empower local communities and local authorities to make the decisions that they feel are most appropriate for their area. The Department will continue to fund the arts through Arts Council England, who provide support to a number of regularly funded organisations across the country.

Arts: London Borough of Redbridge

Mike Gapes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of the effect on arts organisations based in the London borough of Redbridge of local authority funding reductions. [27179]

Mr Vaizey:
It is central Government's role to empower local communities and local authorities to make the decisions that they feel are most appropriate for their area. The Department will continue to fund the arts through Arts Council England, who provide support to a number of regularly funded organisations across the country.

Arts: Luton Borough Council

Kelvin Hopkins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will assess the effects of reductions in funding for local authorities on arts organisations in Luton borough council area. [27128]

Mr Vaizey:
It is central Government's role to empower local communities and local authorities to make the decisions that they feel are most appropriate for their area. The Department will continue to fund the arts through Arts Council England, who provide support to a number of regularly funded organisations across the country.

Arts: West Midlands

Jack Dromey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether his Department has undertaken an impact assessment of the economic effects on the arts sector in the West Midlands of the proposed reduction in funding for organisations regularly funded by the Arts Council over the period of the comprehensive spending review. [26865]

Mr Vaizey:
As part of the spending review, the Department will be reducing its own administrative budget by 50% and has asked a number of its arm's length bodies to do the same. At a difficult time our aim has been to ensure that the maximum amount of funding is spent at the front line, rather than on bureaucracy. We had regular discussions with those arm's length bodies during the spending review and those discussions continue. We are confident that in cutting administration in order to limit cuts to the front line, arts organisations across the country, including those in the West Midlands, will continue to thrive.

30 Nov 2010 : Column 778W

BBC

Mr Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what criteria will be used to determine the shortlist for the appointment of the new Chairman of the BBC Trust; and if he will make a statement. [26979]

Mr Vaizey:
All applications for the position of Chair of the BBC Trust will be considered against the following criteria:

excellent representational skills, and past experience of independent decision-making and public discussion of decisions taken;

commitment to the independence and the objectives of the BBC-stated as the six Public Purposes in the Charter;

a commitment to effective financial stewardship and ability to ensure value for money is achieved;

understanding of the key challenges facing public service broadcasting and the wider media industry in the UK;

an understanding of the role of the BBC Trust and a commitment to continuous improvement in the governance of the BBC including its relationship with the Executive Board;

a commitment to accountability and representation of licence fee payers' interests, within the current Charter arrangements;

ability to lead strategy and decision making across the range of the Trust's responsibilities;

understanding of the BBC's impact on the commercial media sector;

excellent communication skills, and the ability to represent the Trust with confidence to Government, the media and a wide range of stakeholder groups, including viewers and listeners at public events;

commitment to equal opportunities and diversity.

Digital Economy Act 2010

Ms Bagshawe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment has been made of the impact of the judicial review of Ministerial decisions on the Digital Economy Act 2010. [26355]

Mr Jeremy Hunt:
British Telecom and Talk Talk have been granted permission to proceed with a judicial review of the case against the online copyright infringement provisions of the Digital Economy Act 2010 (DEA).

The date for the hearing has not yet been confirmed by the court. In the meantime, work on implementing the DEA is continuing as planned and Ofcom will shortly be publishing the draft initial obligations code.

EU Law

Priti Patel:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many EU directives are pending transposition into domestic legislation by his Department; and what estimate he has made of the cost of each such transposition. [27499]

John Penrose:
At present the Department does not have any EU directives pending transposition into domestic legislation.

30 Nov 2010 : Column 779W

Members: Correspondence

Mr Baron:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when his Department plans to respond to the letters from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay of (a) 16 September and (b) 20 October 2010 regarding a constituent, Mr Rowland. [27707]

John Penrose:
There is no record of a letter dated 16 September ever being received by the Department. However a response to the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay's letter of 20 October was sent by email on 25 October. A copy of this response will be sent to him at the House by post for information.

Museums

Tristram Hunt:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent representations he has received on his decision to end his Department's funding for non-national museums, including the People's History Museum. [26988]

Mr Vaizey:
This Department is currently in discussions with all the non-national museums about this decision. The Department is not ending funding to its non-national museums; these have been allocated funding in the next spending period to 2014-15. The coalition are committed to improving transparency and efficiency by dispersing the power held by central Government and the Department believes that they will be more effectively sponsored away from central Government.

Music

Mike Weatherley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans he has to reduce the (a) regulatory and (b) administrative burden on organisers of live music performances. [27235]

John Penrose:
We are currently considering how to deliver the coalition commitment to cut red tape and encourage the performance of more live music, while ensuring that there is appropriate protection for local communities.

We will continue to have discussions with representatives from the music industry, the Local Government Association and others so that we can find the best possible solution.

Music: Licensing

Graham Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans he has for the future of arrangements for music licences in respect of public performances. [26808]

John Penrose:
We are currently considering how to deliver the coalition commitment to cut red tape and encourage the performance of more live music, while ensuring that there is appropriate protection for local communities.

We will continue to have discussions with representatives from the music industry, the Local Government Association and others so that we can find the best possible solution.

30 Nov 2010 : Column 780W

National Lottery: Arts

Mr Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much lottery funding for the arts was awarded in (a) the West Midlands and (b) England in the last five years. [26980]

John Penrose:
The amount of lottery funding awarded to the arts in the west midlands and England over the last five years can be found on the Department's searchable database at:

This database uses information on lottery grants supplied by the lottery distributors.

Regional Development Agencies: North East

Chi Onwurah:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 6 September 2010, Official Report, column 333W, on regional development agencies: North East region, what mechanisms he has put in place to ensure that the interests of the tourism industry are represented; and what mechanisms he plans to put in place to ensure that assistance to businesses in the tourism sector is maintained during the transition from regional development agencies to local enterprise partnerships. [27125]

John Penrose:
The Government will place a strong emphasis on leadership by local tourism interests, in particular, local tourism businesses, as set out in the White Paper, 'Local Growth: realising every place's potential', presented to Parliament on 28 October 2010.

Further details of the Government's position will be made available in a forthcoming tourism strategy paper, currently scheduled for release in early 2011.

VisitEngland have set up a transition team, working with the regional development agencies (RDAs) on maintaining tourism support.

Following the announcement of the first 24 Local Enterprise Partnerships, DCMS and VisitEngland have also begun work with the LEPs on transitional issues and on their individual tourism plans.

Royal Parks: Maintenance

Nicholas Soames:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of the backlog of maintenance works in the Royal Parks. [26772]

John Penrose [holding answer 29 November 2010]: The chief executive has operational responsibility for maintenance of the fabric of the Royal Parks (TRP). Following a review, in 2004, he advised the Secretary of State that the estimated backlog was £64.5 million, which was reduced to £51.2 million by 2008-09. In 2009 TRP undertook a new comprehensive review of the backlog, which added new items. The re-based figure is £56 million.

Sports: Greater London

Mr Evennett:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps his 30 Nov 2010 : Column 781W
Department is taking to increase adult participation in sport in the London Borough of Bexley. [27039]

Hugh Robertson:
Sport England is the arm's length body with responsibility for community sport. Their aim is to increase and sustain levels of participation in sport and develop talent to drive standards of elite performance throughout the country. Their funding is distributed as part of the commitment to get one million more people playing more sport by 2012.

National governing bodies of sport (NGBs) are responsible for the strategy, delivering through their networks of community clubs, coaches and volunteers. Sport England is investing £480 million through 46 governing bodies over the next four years and has agreed 'grow', 'sustain' and 'excel' targets with each one. Each sport has developed a whole sport plan to achieve these targets.

In addition to the current funding being invested through NGBs, Sport England has invested a total of £3,114,049 into Bexley since 2006. This includes a recent investment of £1.24 million via the Sustainable Facilities Fund to the Europa Gymnastics Centre, the site which will be the new home of the Europa Gymnastics Club, which will also act as an Olympic and Paralympic training venue for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games.

Deputy Prime Minister

House of Commons: Size

6. Yasmin Qureshi:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what criteria he used to determine his policy on the future size of the House of Commons. [27061]

Mr Harper:
Ultimately the size of the Commons is a matter of judgment. Ministers decided that a modest reduction to 600 seats would be appropriate, mindful that hon. Members must be able to serve their constituents. Around a third of existing constituencies are within the approximate range that will be required in future.

Digital Inclusion

7. Alun Michael:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister to what extent consideration of digital inclusion will form part of his constitutional reform programme. [27062]

Mr Harper:
Where any element of the constitutional reform programme involves use of online services-such as electoral registration-we will ensure that no one is excluded from democratic participation by being offline.

Electoral Register

9. Graham Evans:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent assessment he has made of the accuracy of the electoral register. [27074]

Mr Harper:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today.

30 Nov 2010 : Column 782W

Individual Voter Registration

10. Mr Watts:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress has been made on speeding up the implementation of individual voter registration. [27075]

Mr Harper:
On 15 September 2010, Official Report, columns 883-885, I announced to the House that we plan to speed up the implementation of individual electoral registration so that it comes into force in 2014 as opposed to after the next general election as the previous Government proposed.

Lobbyists

Andrea Leadsom:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress he has made on his plans to introduce a statutory register for lobbyists. [27063]

Mr Harper:
The Government intend to run a broad consultation on the introduction of a statutory register of lobbyists in the coming months with a view to introducing legislation in the next Session.

Alternative Vote: Referendums

Tom Greatrex:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the ballots for the proposed referendum on the alternative vote and the elections to the Scottish Parliament in 2010 will be on separate ballot papers. [27693]

Mr Harper:
The ballots for the proposed referendum on the voting system and the elections to the Scottish Parliament in 2011 will be on separate ballot papers.

Departmental Written Questions

Sir Paul Beresford:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) how many and what proportion of questions tabled to him for written answer on a named day were answered substantively before or on the day named for answer since May 2010; how many such questions tabled between May 2010 and 12 November 2010 had not received a substantive answer by 18 November 2010; and what estimate he has made of the average cost to his Office of answering a question for written answer on a named day on the day named for answer in the latest period for which figures are available; [25983]

(2) how many and what proportion of questions tabled to him for ordinary written answer since May 2010 were answered within (a) seven days and (b) 14 days of tabling; how many such questions tabled between May 2010 and 12 November 2010 remained unanswered by 18 November 2010; and what estimate he has made of the average cost to his Office of answering a question for ordinary written answer within seven days of tabling in the latest period for which figures are available. [25984]

Mr Harper:
This Session, in the period specified the Deputy Prime Minister has received 241 ordinary written questions. In respect of those questions 215 (89%) were answered within five sitting days; 26 (11%) were answered after five sitting days and none remain unanswered.

30 Nov 2010 : Column 783W

In the same period the Deputy Prime Minister received 54 named day questions. In respect of those questions 47 (87%) were answered on the specified date, six (13%) were answered after the specified date and one question remains unanswered.

The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with sessional statistics in a standard format on the time taken to respond to written parliamentary questions for the 2009-10 Session. This information will be submitted to the Procedure Committee shortly.

The Cabinet Office does not hold data relating to the cost of parliamentary questions. However HM Treasury conducts an annual indexation exercise of the cost of written and oral parliamentary questions so as to ensure that these average costs are increased in line with increases in underlying costs. The estimated costs that have applied from 20 January 2010 are:

Written question: £154

Oral question: £425

The disproportionate cost threshold (DCT), the level above which Departments can refuse to answer a written PQ is £800.

The Treasury, in making its assessment of the cost of answering questions, does not differentiate between the types of written questions.

Voting Systems

Sarah Newton:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent representations he has received on the registration of voters with second homes. [27116]

Mr Harper:
Since May, Ministers have had one meeting on the subject at the request of an MP. The Cabinet Office has also received correspondence on the subject. However, correspondence is not recorded in such a way that would enable us to readily identify the number of representations received on the specific issue of second home voters. To do so would incur disproportionate costs.

Cabinet Office

Corruption: EU Law

Sir Menzies Campbell:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 17 November 2010, Official Report, column 846W, on corruption: EU law, whether the Government maintains a record of those operators that have been convicted of the offence of bribery. [26804]

Mr Maude:
The Government do not maintain a record of those operators that have been convicted of the offence of bribery. The Criminal Records Bureau maintains a record of all convictions given over the life of an individual. Disclosure Scotland maintains a record of individuals with unspent convictions. There is no equivalent centralised record for corporate convictions.

Electronic Government

Tony Baldry:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to provide that certain Government services are only available online; and what timetable he has set for such provision. [26278]

30 Nov 2010 : Column 784W

Mr Maude:
The Government have set out a clear ambition that digital will increasingly be the primary channel for delivery of public information and transactional services. This is part of our overall plan to inject more choice, control and personalisation into public services.

Our aim is for Government services to be digital by default, making online the preferred channel for Government services. This marks a decisive move away from a neutral 'multi-channel' approach to one where we actively encourage people to switch to digital channels and put compelling incentives in place to support this, with digital technology driving better services and lower costs.

However, no one will be excluded from services because they cannot use or access the internet. Assisted digital support will be provided so that, although there is a strong expectation that those that are able to will use digital channels, those who cannot will always be able to access services.

A first wave of services have been announced which will move towards digital as their primary channel with timetables established for each service as follows:

On Student Finance for Higher Education in England, there will be an expectation from 2011 that initial applications by students are made online. Paper forms will no longer be printed or available to readily download from Directgov.

For jobseeker's allowance, Jobcentre Plus will introduce a strong expectation that new jobseekers allowance applicants should apply online-with the aim that 80% of claims will be made online by 2013.

For businesses, Companies House plan to mandate digital only filing of the vast majority of filing services including incorporation, accounts and annual returns by 2013, subject to a full impact assessment and the timely passage of the necessary secondary legislation.

HMRC are putting together a package of measures that will make it easier and quicker for businesses to deal with the tax authorities using online services as the norm. For example, from August 2012 the online channel will be the mandatory way to register for VAT, with other channels being closed or consolidated, and from 2013 it will become mandatory for business customers to tell us online when they start their business activity for the purposes of self-assessment and corporation tax.

Public Sector: Procurement

Alex Cunningham:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether his Department plans to reform procurement rules to facilitate the delivery of public services by (a) charities, (b) social enterprises, (c) small businesses and (d) other non-governmental bodies. [27301]

Mr Maude:
The Public Contracts Regulations 2006 do not themselves prevent different supplier types from delivering public services. However, the Government are in the process of reforming Government procurement practices and procedures in a way that will facilitate the delivery of public services by a wide range of providers, including charities, social enterprises, small businesses, other non-governmental bodies, and by existing public servants independently of existing departmental structures.

On 1 November, I announced a package of measures to help small and medium-sized enterprises to obtain public sector contracts. They include halving the 30 Nov 2010 : Column 785W
length and breadth of the pre-qualification process for small firms, and creating a single website called Contracts Finder, where businesses can locate all the contracts that are available from Government.

We are publishing a Green Paper shortly which will ask civil society organisations and commissioners how the commissioning process can be improved in order to increase the role of charities, social enterprise, mutuals and co-operatives in public service delivery. Feedback from this consultation will inform the wider Public Services Reform White Paper to be published early in the new year. Reforms to the procurement process will form part of this work.

Work and Pensions

Access to Work Programme

Mr Blunkett:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2010, Official Report, columns, 992-993W, on the access to work programme, when he expects to place in the Library a copy of the latest version of the Jobcentre Plus guidance referred to in her answer. [27622]

Maria Miller:
I can confirm that the latest version of Access to Work guidance has been placed in the Library.

Benefits

Ms Buck:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of households in each local authority in each English region likely to be affected by the introduction of the proposed upper limit on benefits entitlement. [25092]

Steve Webb:
The information requested is not available.

The Chancellor's announcement in the spending review of a benefit cap was informed by high-level consideration of the broad impacts. We are now working up the more detailed design. When we introduce legislation for the implementation of the cap, we will publish an impact assessment.

Council Tax

Frank Dobson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of (a) new council tax benefit claims made to each local authority were dealt with within 25 days and (b) amended council tax benefit claims were dealt with within 10 days in the last 12 months; what the average cost to the public purse of each transaction was; and how much on average was paid out. [26983]

Steve Webb:
The requested information on claims dealt with within 25 days, and change of circumstances dealt with within 10 days has been placed in the Library.

The average cost of each of these transactions is not available.

The average amount paid out for these transactions is not available.

30 Nov 2010 : Column 786W

Departmental Food

Julian Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has guidelines on ensuring that food used for his Department's official functions is of domestic origin. [25519]

Chris Grayling:
The Department does not procure food directly, but has a contract for the provision of fully serviced accommodation which includes catering. The contract is with Telereal Trillium and their catering services supplier is Eurest (part of the Compass Group UK and Ireland).

The Department works with these suppliers, actively promoting Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs guidelines that food procured meets British or equivalent standards of production wherever this can be achieved without increasing overall costs.

Departmental Press: Subscriptions

Mr Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible spent on press cuttings services in each of the last 12 months. [25480]

Chris Grayling:
The Department has taken steps to reduce the cost of receiving press cuttings over the last 12 months. We have now reduced our monthly spend by more than half and continue to look at ways to make further reductions.

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

Cost per month for DWP access to press cuttings service (excluding VAT):

Cost (£)

2009

November

21,656.68

December

17,211.97

2010

January

15,543.40

February

18,747.85

March

22,713.40

April

17,771.14

May

16,211.79

June

17,834.22

July

15,992.68

August

7,649.03

September

7,130.45

October

10,681.51

NDPBs co sts

Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (CMEC)

Cost per month for CMEC access to press cuttings service (excluding VAT):

Cost (£)

2009

November

293.42

December

225.69

2010

January

262.09

30 Nov 2010 : Column 787W

February

267.33

March

298.06

April

216.46

May

172.34

June

229.75

July

531.81

August

341.22

September

267.69

October

390.13

Health and Safety Executive (HSE)( 1)

Cost per month for HSE access to press cuttings service (excluding VAT):

(1) The increase in costs for September 2010 was primarily due to an unusually busy period for health and safety news including the publication of the Lord Young Report.

Cost (£)

2009

November

2,490

December

2,215

2010

January

2,489

February

2,580

March

2,838

April

2,717

May

2,101

June

1,720

July

1,729

August

3,265

September

6,141

October

(1)-

(1) Unavailable. Note: Figures rounded to the nearest pound.

National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) corporation

Cost per month for NEST access to press cuttings service (excluding VAT):

Cost (£)

2009

November

1,283

December

1,387

2010

January

1,975

February

2,083

March

2,680

April

2,461

May

2,261

June

1,396

July

2,233

August

2,098

September

2,558

Note: Figures rounded to the nearest pound.

Pension Protection Fund (PPF)

Cost per month for PPF access to press cuttings service (excluding VAT):

Cost (£)

2009

30 Nov 2010 : Column 788W

November

1,298

December

1,246

2010

January

977

February

1053

March

1,132

April

1,158

May

1,066

June

1,581

July

1,242

August

930

September

1,020

October

1,468

Note: Figures rounded to the nearest pound.

Remploy Ltd

Cost per month for Remploy access to press cuttings service (excluding VAT):

Cost (£)

2009

November

375

December

395

2010

January

285

February

450

March

270

April

310

May

405

June

345

July

240

August

490

October

560

Note: Figures rounded to the nearest pound.

Disability Employment Advisory Committee (DEAC)

Nil costs.

Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board (DLAAC)

Nil costs.

Equality 2025

Nil costs.

Industrial I njuries Advisory Council II AC)

Nil costs.

Pension Ombudsman/Pension Protection Fund Ombudsman (PO/PPFO)

Nil costs.

Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC)

Nil costs.

The Pensions Advisory Service (TPAS)

Nil costs.

The Pensions Regulator

Nil costs.

Disability Living Allowance

Fiona O'Donnell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether there will be circumstances in which children in receipt of the mobility component of disability living allowance who are attending residential schools will lose their entitlement to the mobility component under his proposals for welfare reform. [25474]

30 Nov 2010 : Column 789W

Maria Miller [holding answer 19 November 2010]:Proposals for disability living allowance reform will be informed by responses to the consultation document which we will publish shortly.

We will be making clearer as we move towards the Bill exactly how the measure to cease paying mobility component of disability living allowance to people in care homes will affect particular groups.